We can speculate whether Errol Spence Jr. is or ever will be 100% of what he was before a horrific one-car crash in October 2019 and a subsequent detached retina, which has limited him to one fight in 2½ years.
If we believe Spence, though, we know that at least two positives have come from his disappointments: He’s more grateful for what he has and he’s never been more driven.
Spence (27-0, 21 KOs) is scheduled to face Yordenis Ugas (27-4, 12 KOs) for three of the four major welterweight titles on pay-per-view April 16 at AT&T Stadium near Dallas, Spence’s hometown.
“I feel my focus is a lot better than before the crash and the eye injury,” he told Boxing Junkie. “I feel like that gave me a new sense of hunger. I just feel like before I won the world title, keeping that focus, that drive, being in the gym, working hard.
“Everything has been basically focused on boxing and my family. I feel 100%, especially mentally.”
Errol Spence Jr. defeated Danny Garcia in his only fight since his car accident in October 2019. Ronald Martinez / Getty Images
The car accident was well publicized. Spence flipped his speeding Ferrari and was thrown from the car yet somehow suffered only lacerations. He was later charged with drunken driving.
That kept him out of the ring until December 2020, when he defeated Danny Garcia by a wide decision at AT&T, the Dallas Cowboys home stadium in Arlington. Then he had to pull out of a scheduled fight with Manny Pacquiao because of the retinal injury, after which he was replaced by Ugas.
Spence was asked about the toll the setbacks took on him. His response was consistent with his easy-going personality: He was disappointed but tried to take his misfortune in stride.
“I’m a firm believer that stuff happens for a reason,” he said. “It’s how you react to it. There are cons to everything. There are pros, too. It just depends on how you take it. It was more rest for me. It got me back in the gym, focused, training hard.
“… Some people might be furious, angry. If you’re furious or angry, you still got the problem. You might as well change your perspective so it can be to your benefit.”
That said, the loss of the Pacquiao fight hurt. A victory over the Filipino legend would’ve been both defining and lucrative.
Instead, he could only watch as the talented Ugas outboxed 42-year-old Pacquiao to take his 147-pound title and send him into retirement last August in Las Vegas. Now his only option is to beat the man who beat the man.
“Yeah, I was disappointed,” he said. “I feel like basically that was aligned for me and I missed the opportunity. I couldn’t dwell on it, though. It happened for a reason. He won the fight and now I’m fighting the guy who beat Pacquiao.
“It’ll still come full circle for me. I’ll just to have to win in impressive fashion so that people will say, ‘If he would’ve fought Pacquiao, he would’ve destroyed him.”
It goes back to that take-it-as-it-comes attitude, the ability to make the best of a bad situation.
Spence would’ve liked to have fought more than once since the fall of 2019. He would’ve loved a chance to face an all-time great, Pacquiao. That didn’t happen. Instead, he insists he’s healthy and happy, he’s wealthy, he’s one of the most-respected fighters in the world and he’ll have a chance to strengthen his claim of being the best welterweight when he fights Ugas.
Not bad, huh?
“Some fighters – some people – don’t appreciate what they have until they almost lose it,” he said. “I definitely appreciate it more knowing that it can be taken away from you at any moment.”
